April 20, 2016

EU on agri-food trade offensive in China, Japan

The EU is on an agri-food trade offensive as its commissioner for agriculture and rural development, Phil Hogan, visits China and Japan this week accompanied by a business delegation of 63 agri-food executives from 15 member states.

Earlier in February, Hogan led a similar high-level visit to Colombia and Mexico, as a result of which the latter opened its market to fresh pig meat imports from Spain.

Over €100 million (US$113.71 million) has been allotted this year for the promotion of EU agri-food products in third countries (countries outside the EU) and of consumption outside and inside the EU.

"China and Japan are particularly important markets for the EU agri-food sector which have shown considerable growth in recent years. I hope that these promotion events will highlight the quality, traditions, and added value of our products, as well as our food safety and traceability guarantees, and stimulate further interest from Chinese and Japanese consumers in European food and drink", Hogan had said before his journey, which started on Saturday (April 16).

"I look forward to building on our existing trade flows and showing that Europe is open to business, in particular for agri-food products. My hope is that I can also make some progress on a number of hindrances to current trade", he had added.

Hogan, whose two-country visit ends on Friday, April 22, is expected to meet with China's and Japan's ministers in charge of agriculture, sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, and trade.

He is also to launch a "European Restaurant Week" event in Beijing and Tokyo, open business-to-business meetings, and visit a number of retailers/markets, as well as make field trips to local producers.

Hogan's visit will end in Niigata, Japan, for the G7 meeting of agriculture ministers. The business delegation will also hold several business meetings on site.